Another Officer Killed in St Petersburg
Another sad day in St. Petersburg.
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ST. PETERSBURG - A St. Petersburg police officer died after he was shot by a suspect at the 2nd Avenue South and 8th Street South on Monday night.
The officer is a 25-year veteran of the St. Petersburg police. He is 46 years old. Chief Chuck Harmon wouldn't release his name, saying he was waiting for the officer's family to arrive at Bayfront Medical Center.
The officer was shot in the chest multiple times. He returned fire but it isn't known if he hit the suspect, Harmon said.
Two police officers had answered a prowler call in the 700 block of 3rd Avenue South. They arrived at the scene at 10:34 p.m.
At 10:37 p.m., police got a report of an officer shot. The officer was taken by ambulance to Bayfront in St. Petersburg.
Harmon, Mayor Bill Foster and city council members arrived at the hospital early this morning. Police officers in uniform and plainclothes also gathered at the hospital.
No suspects have been arrested, police said. The second officer wasn't shot or injured, police said.
There are several officers in the area and a helicopter is overhead as they search for a suspect, a black male who is 18 to 20 years old, police said.
Not far from Tropicana Field, Campbell Park, which is at 16th Street South and 7th Avenue South, has been cordoned off. Officers are patrolling the area and surrounding neighborhoods. They are carrying rifles and walking with K-9 units. Roads also have been closed in the area.
People who live in the neighborhood, roughly the area of 2nd Avenue South and 8th Street South, have been advised to stay inside with their doors locked and to cooperate with police.
Investigators are interviewing the police officer who responded to the prowler call and wasn't injured. They also are interviewing civilian witnesses.
The shooting comes on the heels of the shooting deaths of two St. Petersburg police officers last month.
Fugitive Hydra Lacy Jr. shot two officers and wounded a deputy U.S. marshal as authorities tried to capture him in a home at 3734 28th Ave. S. in south St. Petersburg.
Sgt. Thomas Baitinger, 48, and officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz, 39, died in the shooting. Deputy U.S. Marshal Scott Ley was wounded.
Lacy died in the standoff.
